Folding stool supporting structure



Dec. 14, 1948. R. B. LONG 2,456,519

FOLDING STOOL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 18, 1946 INVENTOR RALPH B. LONG Patented Dec. 14, 1948 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING STOOL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Ralph B. Long, Flint, Mich.

Application December 18, 1946,-Serial No. 716,900 1 Claim. (01. 155-136) This invention relates to an improvement in a foldin stool, and specifically contemplates providing a supporting frame which may be easily and quickly folded into a comparatively of their respective ends but are limited in the distance which they may be spread apart by stops which are an integral part of said body member. These latter frame members constitute the legs small, compact unit. 5 of said structure which engage the means upon Although there are numerous varieties of foldwhich 1saiddfolding stool supporting structure is ing stools in existence, the improvement in the 0 e p 1168 supporting structure of the folding type stool Referring to the drawings: proposed in this invention will substantially Figure 1 is an oblique view of the distended reducef bioth the time and expense required in supporting structure for a folding stool incormanu ac uring the said supporting structure porating one embodiment of this invention. for folding stools of a ty e presently in use. It Fi ure 2 i a pl n v w f the n l y is desirable to provide a folding stool with a member before it is folded into its operable shape, supporting structure which will occupy a mini- Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the folding mum of space when collapsed yet which will sttiiLsupp ing structure ina collapsed position. safely support a reasonably heavy adult. will be observed in Figure 1 that the par- Accordingly, a major object of this invention ticular embodiment of the invention illustrated iso to prgvide a supporting structure for a folding g e n i L p i Of a Central y part I and s 001 w ich may be more readily manufactured a s e ers Co p three a s and than similar supporting structures presently in hr e egs pivotally attached thereto, in p a use. three uniformly disposed points. The three at furtlfier1 object of this ingention is to proupper 951:8 dezihgnaged a; 2, 3 and tlfiarg pivotally vi e a 01 ing s 00 suppor ing structure as associa e wi I e ree egs and aforesaid which may be manufactured more respectively. economically than similar supporting structures As illustrated in Figure 2, which views the presently in use. central body member in the flat, said body mem- A further 0 ject of this invention is to prober may e readily stamped ou or otherwise vide a folding stool supporting structure as cut in any conventional, convenient manner from aforesaid which is adequately sturdy and durable. flat durable material, preferably metal. Also as A further object of this invention is to proshown in Figure 2, said central body member has vide a folding stool supporting structure as aforea center section ll! supporting three leaves ll, said which may be collapsed easily and quickly. l2 and H which. are'integral with said center A further object of this invention is to provide section in this particular embodiment of the ina folding stool, supporting structure as aforesaid vention but could quite conceivably be separate which, when collapsed, is sufliciently small for pieces suitably attached to said center section easy transport, as for example, 1n an overcoat I0. Thesald center section Ill may be triangular side pocket. inshape as illustrated for convenient association Other objects and purposes of this improvewith three leaves,'each supporting two of the merit in a folding Stool Supporting ucture Will six frame members shown in Figure 1. However, become apparent to those familiar with this it will be understood that it would be possible to ype f eq lpm fl upon reading the following 40 design this central body part rectangularly, or speclficalllons d p mspectlon the otherwise polygonally, with as many edges and i pa liy t ti l l b t d h corresponding leaves as required by the number n Omee 90 San purposes of frame members which are desired on the tofore Set forth, I a Provided a supportllong stool. For illustrative purposes, only, in this parstructlflre havmg i? m1 body it er ticular application the minimum condition of to Whlch i plvotsany attacgd bplura lty three upper arms and three lower arms, or legs, frame mem t ome of mem ers are pl comprising the frame members will be described, otany fixed Wlth respect to Sald body member at thus resultin in the t e of three leaved central one of their respective ends so that their free b d b D A ends may be swung above the body member for 0 y er 5 Own m lgure k 1 the purpose of engaging a suitable seat in any central body member 15,1010 en Ong convenient manner, but more specifically as dis- 51 1 i i r m F 21 i closed in my Patent No. 1,715,559. The free ends 6 eaves an are Perpen lcu ar 0 of the remainder of the said members are also and all on the same side of the center section l0. pivotally attached to said body member at one The material from which the center body member is fabricated will be limited only to the extent that it must be of sufficient strength to support the load for which it is designed. The openings [1, l8 and [9 are provided in the leaves H, l2 and I3, respectively, for the reception of suitable pins, one of which is indicated at 20 in Figures 1 and 3, upon which said arms and legs are operably mounted for pivotal motion therearound. As shownlin Figures. 1 and: 3, the: arm 2 and the leg.5 are pivotally mounted on the same pin 20, through the opening I9 in the leave 1 and 3 that the arms are=swiveledadiaeent t'o the inner surfaces of the leaves H, I2. and lit whereas the legs are swiveled adjacent to the outer surfaces of said leaves.

Similar'cQmersZI; 2zand 23 of'leaves'l'l, l2, and: |3-- are; broken" along" the lines" 24,- 25" andrZ'B as-indicatedin Figure 2tso that-the ears "thereby produced willextend outwardly from the center of "the body member l and pref erablyperpendic: ular tothe respectiveleaves of which they area part. Said ears thereby providean integralstop on.said leaves H, l2. and l3f for'the, purpose: of limiting .the distance to which the legs 5, 6'an'd 1 may swing when. the folding stool supportingj structure asshown in Figure, v1; is-distendedifor usage. Said. stops, by limiting. the. extent to which said; legs, may freely, sWing, providedi the abovementioned' supporting, structure with the necessary amount. of? stability under load;

Inithe. central, body member; I the .1eaVes. H 121 and; I31 do. not..extend the..full;length of" the. adjacent. connected edges, of" the, center III by. whichtoprovidea slot between, each pair of adj acent. .parallel' edgesof the three leaves Ill l 2 and:

I3; one.of which. .slots is. indicatedatlii'fliin Figures 1'; and,.3,' in said. centralllbody member. I. Said three slots are advantageously positioned; with.

respect..to,.the..-three arms], .3 and .4..so. as. to. provide. openings -.in whichlsaid'; arms may move in,

an; upwardly. direction. for. engagementwith. a

In this manner the arm 3 and the legs 6;. as well as the arm 4 and the leg 'Lare similarly body member I are moved pivotally downwardly.

As shown in Figure 1, the arms 2, 3 and 4 will swing through a considerably larger are for engagement with a seat means 3! than the legs 5, 5 6 and i will spread to provide a stable support, as

their lower extremities engage the means upon which the stool is placed.

The arms 2, 3. and 4 and the legs '5, 6 and I may be. made of. any suitable-'1 an'wsufiiciently. sturdy 10 material but'will advantageously be madeof steel. As disclosed in Figure 3, the legs 5, 6 and l are preferably longer than the arms 2, 3 and 4. It is however quiteu readily conceivable that the be longerthan the legs, since the relative lengthzofrthe arms and legs is essentially unimportant as far as the invention is concerned.

Although the above mentioned drawings and description apply to one particular, preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not my intention,

implied. or otherwise,.to. eliminate. other variations or. modifications which, do not depart from the scope or the invention. unless specifically,

In a folding stoollhaving a center member, a.

group of 1' seat. supportingiarms extending; therefrom and a. group of legs extending therefrom,

the iinprovementin said center member come edge. of... 631011.,Ofh saidl leaves and on. the. edge. of

saideleaf which. connects .Withlsaid one -end.of. a. sideaoi. theccentrall section. .to which. side; a. given leafiis. attached; meanspivotally. holding. said seat supporting arms on said leaves within the.

space partiallmydefined;thereby. and permitting them.in .one pivotalpositionrto.extend outwardly. and .upwardlybetween the saidleavesand means pivotallwhol'dinggthe.legsoutside of .therspacedefined by said center member in position withmee spect to. said stopror. limiting movement ofesaid leg. withirespect-to -said-.-center. member at a pre,--

deter-.r i-inedposition.-

RALPH: B, LONG.

"REFERENCES? CIT-EH The following references; are of recordzin the file oi thisa-zpatent z I UNITED" STATES. PATENTS" Name Date: Swartss- ..Feb. Sg -.1910

Number prising: wa polygonalicentrali section; .audepending leaf perpendicularly disposed with relationetheree t'o extendingadownw ardly from each side. oisaidv central section and'extending along eachotsaidsides ironnone endlthereof tor aepointlclosetobut. spaced fi'om-.-tlie..other end; astopnear. the. lower. 

